U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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Abstract

Water samples were collected from 128 wells in a large industrial and urban area in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois during June 1993. Samples were collected from wells completed in one of four geohydrologic units: surficial sand aquifer (Calumet aquifer), clay confining unit, confined sand aquifers, and a carbonate-bedrock aquifer (Silurian-Devonian aquifer). Samples were analyzed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contract laboratories for selected water-quality properties, common ions, trace elements, volatile and semivolatile organic compounds, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Water from wells in the Silurian-Devonian aquifer is predominantly a sodium bicarbonate type. Water types in confined sand aquifers and the confining unit are varied. Water types from wells in the Calumet aquifer also are varied, although approximately 42 percent of the wells in this geohydrologic unit produced water in which calcium and bicarbonate were the dominant cation-anion pair. Samples from several shallow wells in the confining unit and the Calumet aquifer, and one well in a confined sand aquifer, were classified as sodium chloride-type water.

The largest concentrations of trace elements and organic compounds were detected in samples from wells located in or near industrial areas or areas of waste disposal. A total of 14 volatile organic compounds and 23 semivolatile organic compounds on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's target compound list was detected in 20 and 56 samples. A total of 18 pesticide compounds was detected in 29 samples. Compounds containing polychlorinated biphenyls were detected in three samples.

Study Area

Additional publication details

Publication type:

Report

Publication Subtype:

USGS Numbered Series

Title:

Ground-water quality in the Calumet Region of northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois, June 1993

Series title:

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Series number:

95-4244

Year Published:

1996

Language:

English

Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Publisher location:

Indianapolis, IN

Contributing office(s):

Indiana Water Science Center

Description:

vii, 179 p., [8] folded p. of plates :ill., maps ;28 cm.

First page:

1

Last page:

179

Country:

United States

State:

Illinois, Indiana

Other Geospatial:

Calumet Region

Online Only (Y/N):

N

Additional Online Files (Y/N):

N

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